D-loop web belt gripper

• US 6,260,884 B1
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Jessup, Chris P., Bittner, Douglas Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/263,130
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/808, 280/801.2, 297/480, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1855 the means being sensitive to belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/19 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions included in the retractor B60R22/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06

Abstract

A D-loop web belt gripper to releasably grip a web belt is disclosed. The D-loop web belt gripper includes a frame, a web belt gripping component, and a web belt actuating component. The web belt gripping component is a wedge having a plurality of web belt gripping teeth spatially biased away from a base member of the frame. The web belt actuating components is a bail having a lever arm, a pair of guide walls pivotally adjoined to a pair of guide walls of the frame, and a pair of drivers abutting the wedge. A first portion of a web belt is disposable between the web belt gripping teeth and the base member of the frame, and a second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon the lever arm to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt. A forcible unbending of the arcuation in the second portion of the web belt can pivot the bail via the lever arm causing the drivers of the bail to displace the web belt gripping teeth of the wedge in the direction of the base member of the frame.

Claims

1. A web belt gripper for installation in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having at least a first portion and a second portion, said web belt gripper comprising:

a frame mountable to the vehicle, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripping surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member; and

a web belt-actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt-actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member; and

,

wherein said web belt gripping component includes a second base member having a bottom surface and a rear surface, said bottom surface constituting said web belt gripping surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a support member having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, said at least one driver adjoined to said support member and extended therefrom, and

at least one lever arm, each of said at least one lever arm having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, each of said at least one lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, the second portion of the web belt being arcuately disposable upon said pivoting surface to form said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt pivots said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member.

2. A web belt gripper for installation in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having at least a first portion and a second portion, said web belt gripper comprising:

a frame mountable to the vehicle, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripping surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member; and

a web belt-actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt-actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member; and

,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface, and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes a lever arm, said lever arm having a pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface, said latch pivotally adjoined to said frame whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, the second portion of the web belt being disposable between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby the second portion of the web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

3. A web belt gripper for installation in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having at least a first portion and a second portion, said web belt gripper comprising:

a frame mountable to the vehicle, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripping surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member; and

a web belt-actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt-actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member; and

,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame, and

a lever arm, said lever arm having a first end pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side wall of said second wall, said lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, said pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface of said latch, said latch pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side wall of said second wall whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, the second portion of the web belt being disposable between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby the second portion of the web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

4. An adjustable D-loop mechanism installed in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having a first section and a second section, the second section having at least a first portion and a second portion, said adjustable D-loop mechanism comprising:

a mounting bracket mountable to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, the first section of the web belt being disposable and slidably passable through said first slot; and

a web belt gripper including

a frame adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the second section of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member, and

a web belt actuation component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said a web belt gripping component, wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member,

wherein said web belt gripping component includes a second base member having a bottom surface and a rear surface, said bottom surface constituting said web belt gripping surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a support member having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, said at least one driver adjoined to said support member and extended therefrom, and at least one lever arm, each of said at least one lever arm having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, each of said at least one lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, the second portion of the web belt being arcuately disposable upon said pivoting surface to form said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt pivots said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member.

5. An adjustable D-loop mechanism installed in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having a first section and a second section, the second section having at least a first portion and a second portion, said adjustable D-loop mechanism comprising:

a mounting bracket mountable to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, the first section of the web belt being disposable and slidably passable through said first slot; and

a web belt gripper including

a frame adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the second section of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member, and

a web belt actuation component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said a web belt gripping component, wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface, and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes a lever arm, said lever arm having a pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface, said latch pivotally adjoined to said frame whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, the second portion of the second section of the web belt being disposable between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby the second portion of the second section of the web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

6. An adjustable D-loop mechanism installed in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having a first section and a second section, the second section having at least a first portion and a second portion, said adjustable D-loop mechanism comprising:

a mounting bracket mountable to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, the first section of the web belt being disposable and slidably passable through said first slot; and

a web belt gripper including

a frame adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, the first portion of the second section of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member, and

a web belt actuation component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said a web belt gripping component, wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame, and

a lever arm, said lever arm having a first end pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side of said second wall, said lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, said pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface of said latch, said latch pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side of said second wall whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, the second portion of the second section of the web belt being disposable between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby the second portion of the second section of the web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

7. A belt restraining system installed in a vehicle comprising:

a web belt having a first section and a second section, said second section having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

a mounting bracket mounted to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, said first section of said web belt disposed and slidably passable through said first slot;

a retractor mounted to the vehicle, said retractor including a shaft, said third portion of said second section of said web belt being movably adjoined to said shaft; and

a web belt gripper including

a frame movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, said first portion of said second section of said web belt disposed between said web belt gripping component and said first base member, and

a web belt actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member, and,

wherein said web belt gripping component includes a second base member having a bottom surface and a rear surface, said bottom surface constituting said web belt gripping surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a support member having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, said at least one driver adjoined to said support member and extended therefrom, and

at least one lever arm, each of said at least one lever arm having a first end adjoined to said first inner side of said first guide wall and a second end adjoined to said second inner side of said second guide wall, each of said at least one lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, the second portion of the web belt being arcuately disposable upon said pivoting surface to form said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt pivots said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member.

8. A belt restraining system installed in a vehicle comprising:

a web belt having a first section and a second section, said second section having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

a mounting bracket mounted to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, said first section of said web belt disposed and slidably passable through said first slot;

a retractor mounted to the vehicle, said retractor including a shaft, said third portion of said second section of said web belt being movably adjoined to said shaft, and a web belt gripper including

a frame movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, said first portion of said second section of said web belt disposed between said web belt gripping component and said first base member, and

a web belt actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member, and,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface, and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes a lever arm, said lever arm having a pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface, said latch pivotally adjoined to said frame whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, said second portion of said web belt disposed between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby said second portion of said web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

9. A belt restraining system installed in a vehicle comprising:

a web belt having a first section and a second section, said second section having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

a mounting bracket mounted to the vehicle;

a D-loop movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said D-loop having a first slot, said first section of said web belt disposed and slidably passable through said first slot;

a retractor mounted to the vehicle, said retractor including a shaft, said third portion of said second section of said web belt being movably adjoined to said shaft; and

a web belt gripper including

a frame movably adjoined to said mounting bracket, said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component including a web belt gripper surface facing and spatially biased from said first base member, said first portion of said second section of said web belt disposed between said web belt gripping component and said first base member, and

a web belt actuating component movably mounted to said frame, said web belt actuating component including at least one driver adjoined to said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt displaces said at least one driver in a direction of said first base member to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of said first base member, and,

further comprising a latch, said latch having at least one locking surface; and

wherein said web belt actuating component further includes

a first guide wall having a first inner side and a first outer side, said first outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame,

a second guide wall having a second inner side and a second outer side, said second outer side pivotally adjoined to said frame, and

a lever arm, said lever arm having a first end pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side wall of said second wall, said lever arm further having a pivoting surface between said first end and said second end, said pivoting surface spaced from said at least one locking surface of said latch, said latch pivotally adjoined to said first inner side of said first wall and pivotally adjoined to said second inner side of said second wall whereby said at least one locking surface can be variably spaced from said pivoting surface, said second portion of said web belt disposed between said pivoting surface and said at least one locking surface whereby said second portion of said web belt is releasably lockable therebetween.

10. A web belt gripping device for installation in a vehicle having a belt restraining system installed therein, the belt restraining system including a web belt having at least a first portion and a second portion, said web belt gripping device comprising:

a D-loop movably mounted to the vehicle with said web belt slidable through said D-loop;

a web belt gripper including;

a frame movably mountable to the vehicle with said frame including a first base member;

a web belt gripping component movably mounted on said frame and including a web belt gripping surface facing and biased from said first base member, the first portion of the web belt being disposable between said web belt gripping surface and said first base member; and

,

a web belt-actuating component movably mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said web belt gripping component,

wherein the second portion of the web belt is arcuately disposable upon said web belt actuating component to form an arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby a forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt can move said web belt actuating component to thereby displace said web belt gripping surface in a direction of the first base member,

said web belt gripping component includes a second base member having a bottom surface and an additional surface, said bottom surface constituting said web belt gripping surface,

said web belt actuating component includes a lever arm with a pivot surface, the second portion of the web belt being arcuately disposable upon said pivot surface to form said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt whereby said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt pivots said lever arm,

said web belt actuating component further includes a support member and a driver extending from said support member toward said additional surface of said second base member of said web belt gripping component to thereby displace said bottom surface of said web belt gripping component toward said first base member of said frame in response to a pivoting of said lever arm, and,

said frame movable relative to said D-loop with said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the second portion of the web belt to maintain the alignment of said web belt through said web belt gripper and relative to said pivot surface and said support member of said web belt actuating component.

11. The web belt gripping device of claim 10 and further comprising:

a fastening device to movably mount said frame to said vehicle and to pivotally mount said D-loop to said vehicle, said frame includes an opening through which said fastening device extends, said fastening device located centrally in said opening without said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the web belt, said opening has a opening end with said frame moving relative to said D-loop to locate said fastening device toward said opening end with said forcible unbending of said arcuation in the web belt to align said web belt through said web belt gripper.